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The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR, has handed over two constructed and fully equipped Health Centres to the Cross River State government for use by the refugees and host communities in Ogoja Local Government Area.
The UNHCR Country Representative, Chansa Kapaya, while commissioning the health centres, commended the cooperation of all stakeholders and thanked the federal government in general and Cross River State in particular for hosting the Cameroonian Refugees.
She maintained that the statistics of 85,000 refugees in Nigeria is the official registered refugees by UNHCR and National Commission for Refugees, and stated that Cross River State government alone hosts 50,000 refugees and Ogoja Local Government Area host about 15,000 refugees.
The Country Rep held that “Just recently, we distributed 200 vaccine carriers boxes and fully equipped ambulance, security pick up van to ensure security for locals and refugees in Ogoja”
She used the opportunity to call on the Cross River State government to increase the number of health workers in the facilities so that health care services will reach the vulnerable population and expressed gratitude to the traditional rulers for providing the enabling environment for the refugees.
The Head of Ogoja Field Office of UNHCR, Mr Tesfaye Beleke, thanked the UNHCR Country Rep for finding time to hand over the constructed health facilities to the Cross River State government.
“Apart from these health facilities, very many schools were renovated and some were constructed across the state.
“Today’s occasion is a very unique one that we don’t have very often. The Country Rep is here to handover these facilities to the government” he added.
The Director General, State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Princewill Ayim, reiterated government’s commitment to providing the needed support to enhance effective intervention.
On his part, the Zonal Coordinator, National Commission For Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Mr Innocent Efoghe thanked UNHCR for providing and equipping the health centres.
Receiving the Health facilities on behalf of the Cross River State government, the Director General of the Primary HealthCare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong, thanked UNHCR for the interventions to better the lives of the Cameroonian refugees and host communities.
She used the opportunity to extend the felicitations of the Wife of the governor, Dr Linda Ayade and pledged the commitment of the state to support refugees through the livelihood intervention as implemented by Mediatrix Development Foundation.
Dr Ekpenyong pledged commitment to full utilization of the facilities as she announced that the Adagom Health facility will be enlisted as one of the facilities for the implementation of the Cross River State Insurance Scheme. She further announced that more Health Workers will be sent to the facilities to enhance maximum health service delivery.
Speaking on behalf of Adagom and Ukende communities, Chief mankom Stephen and His Royal Highness, Ajiji Pius Ipole, Clan Head of Ogboja, separately welcomed UNHCR and held that “this has been a dream come true that access to comprehensive health care is now very close to the PoCs and the locals”
They used the opportunity to request UNHCR to reconsider the policy of making the locals pay for healthcare services as the it is telling very negatively on them.
The Chairman of Adagom 1 settlement, Mr Ngale Samuel, commended the Adagom community for the magnanimity in hosting the refugees. He applauded UNHCR for the enormous concerned to assist refugees accessed health Services and maintained that “we are proud of this UNHCR intervention and refered the health facility to a wonderful intervention”
He requested for more health personale and doctors to assuage the doctor to patient ratio.
The Chairman of Ogoja local government council, Hon Emmanuel Ishabor thanked UNHCR for recognizing the support given to the refugees and thanked particularly the leadership of Adagom community for the provision of land other support for the refugees and appealed that their concerns and challenges be channeled appropriately.
The health facilities handed over were, Primary Health Centres Adagom 1 and Ukende.
The occasion featured presentation of gift items to the Country Rep by Adagom 1 and Ukende host communities
